Vermont Celebrates National Teacher Appreciation Week!

Take a few moments to thank the teachers that made a difference in your life.

Today is National Teacher Appreciation Day. To celebrate the many contributions educators make to our state, Vermonters can thank a teacher who made a difference in their lives.

“Vermont has great schools, in large part because of our great teachers,” Governor Peter Shumlin said. “While we appreciate our teachers every day, Teacher Appreciation Week is a good time to let them know how important their work is to our children, our families and our future.”

National Teacher Appreciation Week (May 5-9, 2014) has been an annual staple in Vermont since 1964, and this year Vermont-NEA and the Vermont Agency of Education are asking Vermonters to participate in a fun social media campaign to honor the state’s more than 8,000 teachers.

“I go to work knowing our students are in good hands, and I’m thankful that my children are in Vermont schools” Secretary of Education Rebecca Holcombe said. “Teachers provide our students with rich learning opportunities every day, and instill the confidence and skills which allow students to become the architects of their lives.”

To participate in the campaign, Vermonters can join the conversation on Twitter and Facebook. All it takes is a short tribute to a favorite teacher using the hashtag #ThankATeacher.

“Every day, in classrooms throughout Vermont, teachers work hard to engage their students,” said Martha Allen, Vermont-NEA President. “Nothing means more to us than to watch the students we nurture become happy, successful people who never give up on learning.”

Prominent state officials, fellow teachers, school board members, and Vermonters have been asked to share their memories of teachers who had an impact on them.

“My favorite teacher was my high school ancient history teacher, Mr. Gould,” Allen said. “He engaged the entire class in thoughtful discussions and made connections with each of us. We worked harder in that class than any other because we believed that our voices were heard.”

Holcombe thanked Nancy Lee. “Thurgood Marshall once said ‘None of us got where we are solely by pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps. We got here because somebody - a parent, a teacher, an Ivy League crony or a few nuns - bent down and helped us pick up our boots.’ My teacher, Nancy Lee, handed me a pair of boots.”

We encourage you to join the #ThankATeacher social media campaign, and give our teachers a well-deserved shout-out this week! Connect with the Vermont Agency of Education on Twitter (twitter.com/VTEducation) and Facebook (facebook.com/VTEducation); Vermont-NEA on Twitter (twitter.com/vermontnea) and Facebook (facebook.com/vermontnea); and Governor Shumlin on Twitter (twitter.com/GovPeterShumlin) and Facebook (facebook.com/Governor.Peter.Shumlin).